David made king: the energetic man

David, the king of Judah in Hebron for seven years and a half,
becomes the king of all Israel upon Ishbosheth's death And now David
is no longer the man of faith who, himself the head of the armies of
Israel walking in dependence upon God, guided the enterprises which
the circumstances of Israel required of faith; but he is a king who
can exalt whom he will The man very soon appears, the energetic man,
but not the man of God. "Whosoever getteth up to the
gutter," the king said should be rewarded; "he shall be
chief and captain" (chap. 5: 8). Joab goes up, and he has natural
claims upon David [1] .

Nevertheless, in the main David is guided by God, and he takes the
city which God had chosen for His throne upon the earth. It was on
this account he could say of those who had it in possession,
"they are hated of David's soul"; for in fact they who
possess the true seat of God's power, the place which He loves, and
who, trusting to their natural strength, resist and scoff at the king
whom God has chosen, are more hateful than any people, and are hated
by those who have the Spirit of the Lord who establishes His throne
upon the earth.

David and Solomon as types of Christ

It is well to remark here, that David is a type of Christ in
rejection, and of Christ making war in power for the establishment of
the millennium; as Solomon is of Christ reigning in millennial
peace. David's wars with the Philistines are subsequent to the taking
of Jerusalem, and to the entire subjugation of Israel to David. It is
not David, neither is it Christ reigning over the earth, who takes
Jerusalem. Christ will descend from heaven for the destruction of
Antichrist; but He destroys the enemies of Israel by means of His own
people, after having established His throne in Zion (compare Zech. 9
and 10). I do not enlarge upon this; I merely point out the grand
features which the word supplies on this subject.

Awakened by danger David turns to God

David establishes himself in Zion; he is acknowledged by some
friendly Gentiles; he is conscious too that it was God who made him
king. But the natural heart soon shews itself. Strengthened in his
kingdom by Jehovah, he does what he likes, he follows his own will
(compare Deut. 17: 17).

Nevertheless the consolidation of his power does not overthrow the
hopes of his former enemies [2] ; it excites their jealousy. They
neither know the arm of his strength, nor the purpose of Jehovah who
exalted him. They rush on to destruction. And now, with the danger
that awakens him, we find again the man of God, the type of the Lord
Jesus, inquiring of Jehovah, and obedient to His word. He gains signal
victories under the express guidance of God, whose strength goes
before him and puts his enemies to flight. Accordingly he gives God
the glory.

[1]

Joab was evidently clever and enterprising: but it is remarkable
that he is not named among those who distinguished themselves by
brilliant exploits, when individual faith had to fight for God's glory
When it is a question of being chief and captain, a place which David
had held till then, Joab immediately comes forward. [2]

It is evident, from many Old Testament prophecies, that it will be
the same when Christ returns to the earth. And yet at that period, if
man exalts himself, it will be but for sudden destruction.